In Spanish, there are three demonstrative pronouns that refer to three different spatial relationships between the speaker and the person or thing to which they refer:

este (this/these), ese (that), aquel (those)

este

ese

coche

this car here

that car there

esta

esa

camisa

this shirt here

that shirt there

estos

esos

niños

these kids here

that kids there

estas

esas

sillas

these chairs here

that chairs thee

esto

eso

—

this here

that there

aquel

coche

those car there

aquella

camisa

those shirt there

aquellos

niños

those kids there

aquellas

sillas

those chairs there

aquello

—

those there

Este – esta – esto

is local or temporal in the immediate vicinity of the speaker

Example.: Este libro que esto leyendo es muy triste.

Esa – esa – eso

is not locally or temporally in the immediate vicinity of the speaker

Example.: Esas niñas gritan mucho.

Aquel – aquella – aquello

is not local or temporal near the speaker – further away

Example: Aquellas personas no tienen dinero.

The demonstrative pronouns can be supplemented by local adverbs:

Este / esta / estos / estas de aquí – this/these here

Ese / esa / esos / esas de ahí – this/these there

Aquel / aquella / aquellos / aquelllas de allí – those there

Demonstrative pronouns, like all pronouns, replace a noun. However, these pronouns can also stand as a demonstrative companion before the noun. To better distinguish between demonstrative pronouns earlier pronouns were pronouns with an accent. However, this is no longer necessary today.

However, the pronouns esto, eso, aquello never stand for a noun. They are always used as pronouns. They do not necessarily have to refer to something that has already been mentioned. They may also indicate a thing or a fact.